Heading down Trees. 271 



ing in August and September, with white, Ught-rose, or dark-rose flowers. 

 An acquisition to the family of immortelles, of easy cultivation in any good 

 soil. Sow in the hot-bed in April, or in the garden the last of May. 



Heliptcrum Safifordii, with golden-yellow flowers, and the variety alba^ 

 with white flowers, which are produced in large globular clusters. The 

 foliage is neat, oblong-lanceolate, entire, with a hoary coating like our wild 

 everlastings. The species require more heat than any of the immortelles 

 described, and, unless started very early, vvill hardly come to flower in the 

 open ground, but may be transplanted in autumn, and will be an orna- 

 ment to the collection of plants in the sitting-room or greenhouse. The 

 height is eight or ten inches. 



HEADING DOWN TREES. 



Sometimes a tree which has become stinted in its growth in the orchard 

 or nursery is headed down early in spring, with the view of renovating it 

 by a new growth from the lower part. This often has a good effect, pro- 

 vided the tree is strong enough to bear the shock of such severe discipline. 

 If healthy and of strong constitution, and only checked in its growth from 

 temporary causes, it is probable that the desired effect will be produced ; 

 but, if constitutionally diseased, it will most likely grow to about the same 

 sizi as before cutting down, and then cease. A feeble stock in the nursery, 

 if budded with a vigorous sort, will often make a thrifty growth for one or 

 two years, perhaps until sold ; after which, to the great disappointment of 

 the purchaser, it is impossible to produce a further growth. It was well 

 remarked by one of the most sagacious cultivators we have ever known, 

 that, " if a stock will not make a good tree without grafting, it will not 

 with it." 



